CAUCHON RETREATS ON POT DECRIMINALIZATION

TORONTO -- Justice Minister Martin Cauchon appears to be backing away from
plans to introduce legislation by the end of next month decriminalizing
simple marijuana possession.

Cauchon told reporters yesterday that if he could introduce a new law
before Parliament's summer break he "would be happy."

But he said he believes Canadians need a national debate before taking any
steps to downgrade possession of small amounts of marijuana from a criminal
offence to one penalized by a ticket and fine.

"What will take place in the future in terms of policy, we'll see," he said
yesterday after giving a speech to the Empire Club in Toronto. "I told you,
I would like to reform the system. ... We'll come forward with my policy as
soon as I can."

Cauchon acknowledged that a Commons committee consulted with Canadians
before recommending in December that possession of up to 30 grams of
marijuana be decriminalized. But he said he wants to study those
recommendations as well as those of a Senate committee that went further
last September by recommending that marijuana be legalized for Canadians 16
and older.

Cauchon considered the issuance of tickets to marijuana users as a way of
avoiding saddling youth with criminal records.